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NSW offender cops third mass breach in two years

Latest overloading offence lands East Coast Mining Group $10,000 fine

 

A fleet operator’s sequence of convictions has been denounced by Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW).

East Coast Mining Group was recently fined $10,000 by the Sydney Downing Centre Local Court for the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) offence of Not Comply Mass (Severe) as a result of a 25.1 per cent overload on Axle Group 3.

The company had previously been found guilty of similar severe breaches in January this year and in March 2019 for offences which occurred in June 2019 and July 2018, respectively.

All three offences occurred within a two-year timeframe.

Little was publicly revealed about East Coast Mining Group but records show it was registered in 2014 in Strathfield, NSW.

Under the HVNL, a corporation is liable for five times the penalty applicable to an individual which in this case took the maximum penalty from $14,000 for an individual to $70,000. 

The company was fined $10,000, a significant increase on the previous fines of $2,500 and $500 but well short of the $70,000 maximum.


Read about a company’s hefty fine over its speed limiter setting, here


Despite this, TfNSW says it is satisfied with the outcome.

“Transport for NSW has welcomed the strong message recently sent by the courts that overloading heavy vehicles is unacceptable,” a spokesperson tells ATN.

“Overloading heavy vehicles can be a substantial safety risk which increases the risks of a crash and can lead to road damage. 

“Both trucking companies and the driver can be held responsible for overloading offences.”

 

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